Saturday, October 24, 2020

The American Kestrel and friends

 
Fall is the perfect season to get outside in this part of Florida. The weather is mild, humidity is lower and there are interesting birds at every turn. 


Some we haven't seen in awhile.


Like this American Kestrel.


I don't usually get a photo that shows the bright color he sports.


And then how amazing to look up in the sky and see two more soaring overhead.

Can't leave these beautiful birds out on this hike.


The Northern Flicker


And even a photo of his back.


The pretty Eastern Bluebird.


A Red-headed Woodpecker.


A Pileated Woodpecker.


A Tufted Titmouse


Rufous-sided Towhee


Prairie Warbler


Palm Warbler


and a Blue Jay!


All taken on a 2 hour hike on the Florida trails near my house! 


Amazing! I know! 

Have you seen any interesting birds near you this week?

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’. 


47 comments:

Tom said...

...you have collected a fabulous assortment, thsnks!

Marcia said...

Wow, what a selection in just 2 hours! Lovely captures!

Lea said...

Wow! Wonderful!
Have a blessed day!

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

What a variety of birds! We have seen egrets, great blue herons, little blue herons, ducks. ibis and seagulls out our window around the lake we live on now.

eileeninmd said...

Hello Diane,

These are all great birds sightings from your 2 hour hike . That is awesome. I love the Kestrel and ALL the woodpeckers. Cute shots of the Blue bird, Warblers, Titmouse and Towhee. Wonderful post and outing. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, enjoy your day. Happy weekend to you! PS, thank you for the comment and visit too.

Jenn Jilks said...

We've our feeders up. I went for a walk yesterday and saw the same old.

Penelope Notes said...

Lovely shots! That woodpecker has a beak that could drill a seriously large hole very ably. :)

Debbie said...

oh man diane...what an awesome 2 hour walk!! i think seeing the kestrel was my favorite and that flight capture, wow!! i can not get those to save my soul!! i do love the flickers, with their bib in the front and their heart in the back, they are such beauties!! the 8th picture is my favorite, it's just gorgeous!!

next, i want to say that i would have split this into at least 2 posts, you are very generous!! (oh and NOT because it is too much) just generous!!

have fun today, i hope the temperatures are good and you stay safe!!

Arlene G said...

It takes patience and persistence to get the lovely wildlife photos you share with us Diane. Kudos!! I love the kestrel....such pretty colors that you do not see unless you get that close up view. And woodpeckers have always been a favorite of mine.

Yvonne said...

What a nice selection of birds you have seen and photographed. Several years ago we had an Eastern Towhee visit our gardens for a few months. That was so special.

MadSnapper said...

The birds are beautiful! All of them. But my comment is going to be on the details and the absolute Exquisite photos that you took. The ones towards the bottom I can see every time needle I can see every feather I can see the moss growing on the limb that the bluebird is sitting on. I love macro of things like that and you managed to get the bird and all those details in one photo. You deserve more than a pat on the back these are Blue Ribbon photographs

Martha said...

Beautiful captures Diane! Have a fantastic weekend :)

Phil Slade said...

That was a very successful hike Diane. You have great shots and took full advantage of the day's light. Can't pick a winner but the Kestrel ones are close, especially those in flight.Have a lovely Sunday.

Lowcarb team member said...

Such a lovely hike and wonderful sightings.
Beautiful selection of photographs, I think the Red-headed Woodpecker is my favourite.

Happy Weekend Wishes.

All the best Jan

Bill said...

Great shots, a beautiful series of bird photos. Have a wonderful weekend!

Salty Pumpkin Studio said...

Wow! Great photos! Florida has a lot of birds! You live in a beautiful place.

Vee said...

Beautiful birds all... Here? I am watching the turkey vultures gather...hope that they're leaving soon. Usually, by the 31st, they are on their way south. Happy to see them go...

Susie said...

Diane, We have had more blue jays than ever before this past month. Some sparrows and killdeers. I love the shot of the Kestrel in flight. The perfect feathers. Blessings, xopxo, love, Susie
p.s. My daughter saw an abino robin on her lunch break this past week.

Lea said...

In reply to your comment on my blog: I saw those cute NPS posters in the ladies restroom at Shiloh National Military Park. If there is a national park near you, that is where to look for them!

Edna B said...

You have a fantastic assortment of birds! I love it! I would absolutely love to be with you with my camera. Enjoy your day, hugs, Edna B.

RedPat said...

That was an amazing hike that you had! The Kestrel pics are wonderful!

jp@A Green Ridge said...

Absolutely GORGEOUS photos! The photos of the kestrels are amazing!!! You are so lucky to see them.I need to stop doing yard work and start looking in our neck of the woods...:)jp

Pamela M. Steiner said...

Wow! that is amazing to see so many beautiful birds in one day in a 2 hour hike! You hit the jackpot today, my friend! Thank you so much for sharing with us. They are lovely. No birds for me today. We didn't get outside as much as I would have liked, but we did something else that was fun. Love your pictures. Amazing!!

happyone said...

Wow, you captured quite a lot of different birds. Excellent shots.

Ann said...

These photos are fabulous. You get to see such a nice variety of birds while you're out hiking. Thanks for sharing them with us

Revrunner said...

What wonderful variety!

Bob Bushell said...

The American Kestrel is one of great fantastic, love him.

Terri D said...

Oh my goodness, you got some amazing photos!! That was a great hike!

BeachGypsy said...

Well this was a great hike....and lots of birds!! You got some great pictures. I love the warblers ones best and that bird hanging upside down is so cute too!!! That is a long hike. I sure wish it would go down another ten degrees or so....still pretty hot here, in the 80s. What have y'all got planned this weekend? we did some small house projects/cleaning today, we did for a drive, but SKIPPED THE WALK, LOL. It's ok...we had quite a few long walks this week plus last weekend we did a long long hike. Do you have bird feeders out at your home?

Anu said...

Hello. Great sightings and wonderful photos. There are a lot of beautiful birds where you live!
Take care.

Linda said...

Great images! I hear pileated woodpeckers more often than I see them. They make an awesome noise.

Nancy Chan said...

Its a fruitful hike for you. Beautiful birds shots.

Irma said...

Nice series of photos of these different birds.
Photos 9 and 12 are my favorite.
Have a nice Sunday and stay healthy.

Anni said...

Diane...excellent sightings...the array of woodpeckers is outstanding!
Thanks for linking in with us!

Rain said...

What beautiful photos Diane!! I have never seen such a red head on a woodpecker!! So pretty!

Anonymous said...

Absolutely wonderful array to have nearby. The warblers I have a hard time identifying. Love the flickers and redheads.

Mae Travels said...

Beautiful bird photos!

be well...mae at maefood.blogspot.com

Barbara said...

The birds were really showing off for you on the day you took this hike! Such colors! And I marvel at that Pileated Woodpecker on the UNDERSIDE of that branch!

I have a Colorado friend who recently moved back to his hometown of Bismarck, North Dakota. He posted pictures on Face Book of the Canadian Geese flying south in droves. I told him we're watching their arrival down here. Snowbirds, at their best!!

Jean said...

What an amazing variety of birds! Really enjoyed seeing the woodpecker shots. And the kestrel is beautiful, of course. Happy new week!

Anonymous said...

I've never seen a kestrel before, Diane. What a gorgeous bird!! Thank you for sharing your feathered friends with us!

NatureFootstep said...

wonderful shots of the Kestrels. A species I really miss nowadays.
The rest are all gorgeous, The sweet warblers and the woodpeckers. All of them!

carol l mckenna said...

Wow! What a beautiful selection of 'feathered friends' and awesome photos ^_^

Live each moment with love,

A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

p.s. Had death in family so am way behind in returning comments.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Fabulous flight pictures of the kestrels. I am so envious of your talent! Love all the birds.

Marilyn @ MountainTopSpice said...

Wow, what a spectacular 2 hours of hiking with all these gorgeous pictures of your native birds! You captured some really striking photos, and I enjoyed seeing each one... you must have been really excited about all the bird sightings on that hike! Fall is definitely a beautiful time of year to be out and enjoying God's beauty! Many blessings to you :)

Janey and Co. said...

I wish I could see at least half as many birds. Wow! Have a funny story though. We had a Northern Flicker nest in the eaves of our log home in Colorado. You don’t want a woodpecker when you live in a log home! So my husband borrowed a BB gun. Yikes I couldn’t believe he wanted to kill it! No he said just scare it off. Then we found out it was endangered...he gave the gun back to its owner. Thankfully the little fellow soon moved on.

italiafinlandia said...

Unlike his Eurasian cousin, the American Kestrel is beautifully colourful.
All the best! :)

Teresa said...

Has tenido mucha suerte al ver tantos pájaros preciosos. Feliz semana.